How to Conduct a Paranormal Investigation

Hauntings, poltergeists and other paranormal happenings can be quite unnerving for those who must endure them day after day. Often, it is the mystery of what is happening in people's homes or places of work that frightens them the most, so they will call in people to help them conduct a paranormal investigation to get to the bottom of the situation. Though it seems that many people are attempting to conduct paranormal investigations since the topic is quite popular now, there are a few steps that should be followed in order to achieve the best and most reliable results from an investigation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Electrical tape
• Cameras
• Voice recorders
• Walkie-talkies

1. Interview the individuals who own the property or are having the paranormal experiences. This will give you a good idea of what to expect, as well as inform you and your investigative team which areas need the most focus and which areas your team should avoid. Remember that you and your team will be in an unfamiliar area in the dark, so if there are any dangerous or unique features in the home, you'll want to record them carefully.
2. Schedule a time in the late evening or overnight to perform the investigation. Though it is presumed that ghosts can be just as active during the day as at night, you're far less likely to record regular activity as opposed to paranormal activity if you conduct your investigation during the day.
3. Tape down all wires and cords on the electronic equipment, and make sure every camera or recorder is securely mounted.
4. Set up cameras and voice recorders in the areas where most of the activity has been reported. You're not only most likely to catch evidence in these areas, but these are also the areas that the owners are probably most curious about and would like to have investigated.
5. Take base readings of all the areas where you or another member of your team will be during the investigation. Record these on a notepad marked with the location name, date, time and reading. It may also help to note who did the readings in case there are any questions later.
6. Duplicate any unusual readings on your equipment. It's always possible for a piece of equipment to malfunction, so you should always verify any event that seems to be authentically paranormal.
7. Travel in teams of two or more. This is not only for safety, but it also provides verification to any eyewitness accounts. If you are investigating a large building, be sure to keep in touch with the other teams through walkie-talkies.
8. Assign each team to a particular location, and then rotate after a specific time period so each member of the team experiences each location before the investigation closes for the night.
9. Sit quietly or ask questions to record Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). Many researchers believe that ghosts are able to communicate on wavelengths outside of human hearing, but digital recorders will pick it up and play it back within this range. EVP is one of the most fascinating and startling types evidence and appears to be far more common than photographic evidence of the paranormal.
10. Research the history of the property. Check deed records and search newspaper archives for mentions of the location or names of those who used to live there. This will help you clarify or make sense of any information you have obtained during the investigation. It's best to do this after your physical investigation to avoid the information corrupting any experiences you or your team may have during our time in the building.

Tips & Warnings

• Always bring a sweater. Even if it's the dog days of summer, you'll be sitting quietly and still in the dark for long stretches of time. Air conditioners can cool you down, and if you happen to be in an area that experiences cold spots, you'll be thankful you had the sweater with you.
• Bring a psychic with you since she may be able to give you more insight on the location.
• Remember you're on someone else's property, and possibly in someone else's home. Leave everything the way you found it and avoid ruining the property with your equipment. Be especially careful of using tapes with strong adhesives on painted, papers or waxed surfaces.